Aluminum type deoxidizer weighted to submerge it in molten metal



Feb. 2, 1965 J. J. BowDl-:N 3,163,508

ALUMINUM TYPE DEOXIDIZER WEIGHTED TO SUBMERGE IT IN MOLTEN METAL Filed sept. 1v, 1962 INVENTOR BY fq/ ATTORNEY 3,163,651@ ALUMINUM TYPE DEXEDEZER WEGHTE@ T0 SU'EMERGE l'il EN MLTEN METAL .lames Jl. Bowden, Een l27, Cortland, @his Filed Sept, E7, lQeZ, Ser. No. 224,3@ lf2- Claims. (Cl. Zes-34) The present invention relates to an aluminum type de? oxidizer for making steel of low iron oxide content (fer- Tous oxide). lt vrelates more pantioularly to an aluminum type deoxidicr for making low carbon steel. However, it is notconlncd to the latter. This may be employed in the open hearth, electric, and oxygen4 processes for making steel.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my application identiiied as Serial Number 211,542, tiled on Iuly 2G, 1962, now abandoned, which in turn is a continuationin-part of now abandoned application Serial No. 162,317, filed on February 22, 1961, inthe US. Patent Office.

lt has been common practice to eliminate the harmful effects of Fe() in steelthrough the use of aluminum as a deoxidizing agent by the introduction of metallic aluminum into the molten furnace bath, holding ladle, or ingot molds. Aluminum chemically has a greater athnity for oxygenthan iron, and will therefore take chemically found oxygen from the ferrous oxide. The following reaction takes place in the molten steel in removing the `Eef):

BFeO-l-ZAlAlzOg-l-ElFe At present there are three methods usually employed `in deoXidizing steel, wherein metallic aluminum is employed. These will herewith be summarized.

i (l) Shot aluminum, which is metallic aluminum in the form of small pellets approximately 3m in diameter and having a density of 90-100 lbs. per cubic inch is added to the molten steel in the mold.

(2) Small aluminum ingots, commonly referred to as metal. starts to rise in theladle, the aluminum introduc- `tion is continued until all the necessary aluminum for the deoxidation is in the ladle. Occasionally, if the helper is slow in getting the aluminum into the ladle, there will have been `some slag run into the ladle from the steel furnace and there is the possibility that the aluminum, because of its light weight will rise, into the overlying slag and thereby be lost to the deoxidizing process. Thus, there is the risk of ending up with an unsatisfactory deoxidizing heat of steel, due to the error on the part of the` worker.

(3) A third method of deoxidizing steel is the introduction of a larger unit than used in the aforesaid two `methodaand to immerse it in the molten bath of the "steel furnace.

Such larger aluminum units, v.which range in weight from l5 to50 lbs. are generally termed boots To use these boots of metallic aluminum, they are cast 'United States Patent O Vladle and would not be used inthe steel furnace. It conintosuitable shapes that are customarily circular, rectan'- `gular or sometimes diarnond in cross-section, having a tapered cylindrical hole through the center of each cast unit; a steel bar is their driven into the hole until the bar is so tightly heldto the aluminum that the furnace helper can place the object through the furnace door, thus introducing the fabricated deoxidizer through the slags of the furnace bath into the molten metal underneath. He cus-A tomarily moves the aluminum boots around until the aluminum dissolves, then removes `the rod. `The true purmesses Patented Feb. 2f, l65

pose of the steel bar is to make use of its specific gravity, whereby the aluminum is maintained immersed in the molten steel in the furnace, and to prevent its rising through molten ferrous metal and slag, floating on the surface of the bath.

The third of the aforesaid methods has been used in the production ofV killed steels which usually contain more than 0.20% carbon. Another grade or type of aluminum killed steels has a low carbon content; it contains from 0.04% to 0.08% carbon. Because of its very natu-re, it is likely to be highly oxidized and tohave a high concentration of ferro-us oxide, and for this reason this grade requires strong dcoxidation practice. This grade of killed steel is largely used `in the manufacture of deep stamping steel parts for automobile and other difficult stampings.

It has been the practice over the years to employ 4 to 6 lbs. of aluminum per ton of steel to accomplish the desired end in the manufacture of this low carbon, aluminum deoxidized (killed) ste/el; this is because, as the carbon content of the steel increases, the percentage of FeO (ferrous oxide) decreases. The relation between carbon and oxygen in the open hearth steel is shown in Fig. of page 471 of the textbook The Making, Shaping, and Treating of Steel, 6th edition by I. M. lCamp and lC. B. Francis. rl`hus it will be seen that to make ZG() tons of low carbon, aluminum deoxidized, killed steel, it will require approximately SOO-i200 lbs. of `aluminum ingots; or in terms of aluminum ingots, termed boots of the third method above presented, 20 to 30 ingolts each weighing 40 lbs. will be needed to substantially completely deoxidize the steel in 2G() tons drawn from `the furnace. Furthermore, it can be easily seen that lsuch a method or practice would require an inordinate length of time and trouble, and would cause confusion. Such a practice does not lit into the scheme of things commercially. And furthermore, it would be awkward to handle 20-30 aluminum ingots of 40 lbs. each, also lthe same number of steel rods of l5-20 feet in length, and approximately 1% t0 1% inchesin diameter, which rods would have to be driven into these aluminum ingots. i

Commercially, at present, the second method,rwh`ereiri the notchbar aluminum is added to the ladle, is employed to deoxidize low carbon steel, and if deoxidation in the ladle is incomplete, aluminum, such as shot, is added thereafter to the molds.

On page 390 of `the same textbook referred to supra, Making Shaping, and Treating of Steel, the 6th cdi-V tionV by I. M. Camp and C. B. Francis, under the heading i lmethods havebeen used for adding aluminum to steel.

The development of a superior method for making this addition would be desirable.

The present invention is a weighted aluminum type deoxidizer for ferrous metal of molten condition in the sists broadly of a substantially solid, large aluminum ingot, above it a steel ingot ofeven larger size and having several times the weight of the aluminum ingot, a steel rod which is `firmly ali'ixed to the aluminum ingot, a substantial portion of which extends above the aluminum ingot, a hollow `steel billet attached to the steel rod; thesteel billet projects into a vertical passageway in the previously mentioned steel ingot, and is attached to the steel billet. It is preferred to encase the saidbillet, thus also the steel rod, by

a clay refractory sleeve to protect the steel rod and billet' from attack .by-the hot molten steel. When the said sleeve is employed, a steelrod much smaller than when it is not used, such as 3 inches in d iametercan bek employed'. lt

Athickness dimension of the steel rod.

a is essential that the steel parts of the combined deoxidizer unit be at least several times the weight of the aluminum ingot which is to be immersed in the molten steel. The total weight of the steel parts must be suiiicient that the large aluminum ingot will, due to the great weight of the steel in the structure, mostly in the steel ingot, be readily immersed in the molten steel, and remain submerged until the aluminum ingot has dissolved therein. Based on the theoretical weights, the steel parts will usually weigh in the ratio of about 8,500 lbs. as against the aluminum ingots weight of about 1,000 lbs. However, this ratio can be varied provided the objective just stated lis attained by the excess weight of the steel.

ln the aluminum type deoxidizer of my invention, an aluminum ingot may be cast in one unit around the lower portion of a studded steel bar. The purpose of the studs on the steel rod is to enable the steel rod to be securely eld to the aluminum ingot, which customarily weighs ZOO-1,000 lbs. or even somewhat more, and furthermore to be suspended by the steel rod in the deoxidation process of the molten steel. The studded steel rod should be well embedded vertically, i.e., a suitable distance, in order that it will not become dislodged from the aluminum ingot. Instead of studs other anchoring adjustments in association with the steel rod may be employed to securely fasten or hold the steel rod to the aluminum ingot. Qr the aluminum ingot may be affixed to a steel rod by having a vertical hole in the former, through which the steel rod extends. In this arrangement the steel rod would be threaded at its lower extremity, and a nut screwed against a washer placed around the steel rod, which washer in turn lirmly presses against the underside of the aluminum ingot. Or the washer can be used without any nut, and With no need for the lsaid steel rod having screw threads cuts therein at its lower extremity, by welding the washer directly to the steel rod, where it emerges from the hole in the ingot on the bottom side of the latter.

The aluminum ingot may be cylindrical, or be a parallelopiped or a cube. Even other geometric configurations could be utilized too.

Above the top surface of the aluminum ingot, the steel rod has a series of horizontal holes approximately equally spaced from each other vertically. lt is preferred that the distance between each of the said holes be about equal. These holes can be about 141/8 inches in diameter, the size not being particularly critical. The purpose of these holes will shortly be explained. A suitable construction for the embedded or inserted steel rod is for it to extend about the same distance above the upper surface of the aluminum ingot as it is embedded in it or 3/4 the height s of the said ingot.

Above the upper surface of the aluminum ingot and even seated upon, it there is a steel billet whose inside diameter is a little greater than the diameter or thickness of the aforementioned steel rod. This steel billet has a hole that extends vertically the length of the said billet.

This vertical hole receives the upper half length of the steel rod referred to supra. To illustrate, if the diameter of the steel rod is 3, the inside diameter of the steel billet can conveniently be 31/2. The steel billet is usually cylindrical in shape, but it could be square or rectangular in cross-section, there being centrally positioned, vertical passageway therein to accommodate the steel rod. The outside diameter of the said billet can be an inch or several inches greater than the diameter or "When no refractory clay sleeve is used to protect the steel rod, also the billet, the steel rod would be of several inches greater diameter or thickness than when the said sleeve is employed, even as much as 9".

The steel billet contains horizontal holes or passages `spaced preferably equi-distance from theA adjacent holes,

throughout the length of the said billet. The horizontal holes can be lll/s" in diameter but the size is not exactly critical.r The said holes are-spaced about 6 apart, and

this distance is not a necessity, for a greater number or even a lesser number of holes could be used, too. That portion of the steel rod which extends above the upper surface of the aluminum ingot projects a distance inside the vertical passageway in the steel billet. The horizontal holes in the steel rod are caused to be in alignment with the horizontal holes in the lower portion of the billet; and steel keys are fitted through these aligned holes, whereby the steel billet is secured to the steel rod. Other means of attaching the non-embedded or non-encased portion of the steel rod to the steel billet having a vertical passageway could be used, but the use of a plurality of keys, each htted into the aligned holes in the steel rod and the steel billet is considered preferable, and is simple.

As stated previously, it is preferred to encase the steel billet and steel rod with a clay refractory sleeve. It extends from the top surface of the aluminum ingot to or about to the lower surface of the steel ingot. The clay refractory sleeve is cemented to the upper surface of the aluminum ingot in a thorough manner, so that the hot, molten steel can not contact, hence attack directly or indirectly, the steel rod or the steel billet.

In the upper half, approximately of the structure of my invention, there is a large steel ingot, larger in surface area than the aluminum ingot. This steel ingot may be cylindrical or be a parallelopiped, or even of another geometric configuration, including a cube. This l large steel ingot is obviously of much greater weight than the aluminum ingot previously described. The steel ingot has a vertical hole extending centrally thereof the entire height of the steel ingot, and a diameter just slightly greater than the exterior diameter of the steel billet to which reference has been made. There are a series of horizontally positioned holes drilled in the steel ingot, preferably equally spaced from one another vertically over the entire height of the steel ingot. These holes mesh or are in alignment with the series of holes in the steel billet, i.e., comparing one particular hole in the steel billet at a time with the hole in the steel ingot. These holes in the steel ingot are of the same diameter as the holes in the steel billet, namely about 1" to ll/s" in diameter, and spaced about 6" apart, vertically. These diameters anddistances apart are not however, critical. A series of steel keys of a size to fit snugly in or have a close it with the holes aligned in the steel ingot and the steel billet are put in place. These steel keys secure the large steel ingot to the steel billet. Reference is here being made to the series of keys stuck in the holes of the steel ingot in alignment with the holes in the steel billet. Looking at the immersion structure, the holes are aligned in a straight line from the uppermost holes in the steel ingot to the lowermost holes in the steel billet.

At the upper end of the large steel ingot there is a structure means to hang the steel ingot, and therefore the entire aluminum deoxidizer immersion unit, on the cranehook from the auxiliary hoist.

To hold the steel keys in place they are tack welded to the steel ingot or to the steel billet, depending upon their location on the structure. One of the primary reasons for providing holes through the aforesaid component parts of the immersion unit is that of economy and also convenience of assembly as well as operability. Particularly if no encasing protective clay refractory sleeve is used, when and if the lower end of the steel billet is melted otf or eroded by the molten steel under# going deoxidation, all Ythat will be necessary will be to take the effected part to the shop and there cut olf the defective part; and the result will be, of the last operation, to reduce the length of the steel billet that is inserted in the steel ingot; this operation will enable the same billet to be used again in the deoxidation unit of the present invention.

The studded steel rod that is firmly secured in the aluminum ingot, or the steel rod encased in the aluminum inments ofthe present invention.

nesos got, both previously referred to, must of course be sufficiently strong to support the weight of the` aluminum ingot, when suspended during the entire deoxidation of the ferrous metal. Also, the steel rod should be thick enough to resist melting under the conditions in which it is employed in the molten steel in the ladle, which has a temperature of about 2750 F. to 2906" F. betorethe aluminum that surrounds the steel rod has melted and become assimilated in the molten steel. The aluminum melts at approximately 1225 F., and the low carbon Steel melts at about 2700 F., and the steel bath in the ladle has a temperature somewhat higher. When a clay refractory sleeve is employed, the steel rod can be 3" in thickness, but if not employed twice or more that thickness even.

It is my Ypurposeto employ aluminum ingot of not less than approximately 200 lbs. in weight. Preferably,

a size greater than 200 lbs., such as 400 lbs., or more in weightis used. Such a size would avoid some difiicuities attending the use of ingots of 25-50 lbs. in weight, referred to in the third method, near the outset, of de` oxidation of aluminum, i.e., use of boots It is known that the amount of aluminum in the range of 4 to 6 lbs. per ton of low carbon steel is employed in the steel manufacturing industry. Hence, for 290 tons of steel, the amount of aluminum would be 800 to 1,200 lbs. So, when aluminum ingot of 460 lbs. is used in my fabricated deoxidizer, it would be necessary to employ 2-3 such weight aluminum ingots for proper deoxidation of the lowcarbon steel. Or one ingot of SOO-1,20() lbs. could be used.

The aluminum type deoxizider of my invention can be immersed in the molten ferrous metal in the ladle, in fact that is where` it is intended to be used. The mechanical equipment to accomplish'the immersion of my deoxidizer can be positioned above orin the proximity to the ladle, working cooperatively with the ladle. The aluminum ingot can be mechanically put in the ladle and xed in place prior to tapping the heat or it may be put in the ladle after the molten steel startsto rise in the ladle and then" held there in place. The aluminum ingot,

which accomplishes the deoxidation of the ferrous metal in the ladle, is caused to remain in the molten metal until all of the `aluminum which surrounds the steel rod has melted and gone into solution in the molten steel, whereupon the steel rod is removed. A suitable mechanical device at the upper end of the steel ingot of my deoxidizer unit functions both in the introduction and the removal of the aluminum ingot just set out, since the steel ingotl and 4therefore the entire deoxidation unit `wouldbe suspending from the `arm of the mechanical equipment that accomplishes the moving of the entire unit of my invention.

Y For a better understanding of my invention, reference is made to the drawing, which illustrates two embodi- FIGURE 1 is a front plan view of my invention in the iirst embodiment. L y. v a FIGURE `2 is a cross-section of FIGURE l, taken along line 2-Z indicated thereon.

` FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view, taken along line 3-3 thereof.

.FIGURE 4 is a .front plan view ofthe lower portion l of another embodiment of my invention.` f FIGURE S is a cross-sectional View of FIG.` 4, taken along7 line S--5 thereof.v

, It will be perceived that the embodiment in FIGURES i 4'and 5 is the same asthe embodimentin FIGURES 1,-2 and 3, lexccpt that the steel rod is not provided with studs `Wand embedded in the aluminum ingot, but the rod is iriserted in thehole of the said ingot and is fastened liirnly tothe ingo't asshown.` On FIGURE '1 `of `the drawing,

numeral 1 designates the aluminum ingot which is a cylinder of 24'. diameter'and 24 height.` In'this alumit num cylinder, there is firmly anchored (casting operation) a 3 diameter steel rod, numbered` 2, to which there are attached a plurality of studs on all sides of it, numbered 3; This steel rod is circular in cross-section.' That portion of this steel rod which extends above the upper surface of the aluminum ingot is designated by the numeral 4. As seen from the drawing there are a series or" horizontal holes, numbered 5, in this portion of the steel rod. This portion of steel rod 4 projects for a distance of 15" into the vertical hole o of the cylindrical steel billet V'l'. This is substantially the same distance that the steelrod is imbedded in the aluminum ingot.

The cylindrical steel billet has an over-,all length of 120", an external diameter of 9 and an internal diameter of 3%". There are a series of horizontal holes 8, vertically spaced equi-distant throughout the length of the steellbillet. In the lower portion of this billet "i, the horizontal holes therein are in alignment with the holes in the studded steel rod d. A suitable size of these holes `in both the steel rod and the steel billet is l/s, and they are spaced 6 apart vertically. Steel keys, designated by the numeral 9 it closely into these holes to hold the rod 4` bearing the numeral lil. lts inside diameter is somewhat greater than` the outside diameter of the steel billet, so that it also surrounds the steel keys 9; its inside diameter can be 91/2 to l0. As seen from FIG. l of the drawing, the length of the clay refractory sleeve is 48". It is cemented at its bottom edge at itl to the top surface of the aluminum ingot 1. l

Above the upper end of the clay refractory sleeve lil there is a large cylindrical steel ingot, bearing the numeral 1l, having a length of 72" and a diameter of 24 (exterilt has a vertical hole 1,2 therein, whose diameter is 91/2. l through the said vertical hole 12. There are `drilled6 apart a series of horizontal holes numbered 13 through the thickness of the steel ingot, and extending on both sides of the said vertical hole, ie., each horizontal hole corresponds to a diameter distance ot the steel ingot by taking into consideration the diameter measurement of the vertical hole. These holes :i3 have a diameter of 1%",'and are in alignment with the holes S in the steel billet. Keys numbered i4 are inserted :in each of the holes in the largesteel ingot, whereby the latter is fixed teys i4 that extend through the steel ingot is much greater than the length of the keys 9 that extend through the billet 7 previously mentioned. For the steel ingot has a diameter of 24, whereas'the billet has ,an exterior diameter of about one-third of that. At the very top of the steel ingot there is a hooking member l5 forming an eye by which the Vsteel ingot, therefore the entire deoxidizer unit, may be ailixed tothe hoisting mechanism.

Steel keys 9 and i4 have `each tack weld, numbered i 16, to securelytfasten them to the surface of the steel ingot and the steel billet respectively.

"The overLall height of the weighted aluminum deoxidiz` ing unit showninthe drawing is 144, namely,\12feet,

of which the aluminum ingotis 24" orZfeet. The height of the steel ingot is 6 ft. l

From the respective dimensions o f `the parts, particuf.. .n larly those of the steel and aluminum ingots respectivef ly, it is obvious that the ratio Vof the weight of the steel in this unit is many times the weight ofthe aluminum4 ingot,which latter Vis` the chemically functioning `deoxidizerfor the molten ferrous metal. Thisvmust be true in order to submerge andmaintain submerged the alumispeciic gravities of the two substances. In the second embodiment whichisshown in` 4 and *5, in the aluminum "ingot 21, thereis-a vertical hole or passageway 22, intowhich there has been in-` Asertedsteel rod, numbered 23. This steel rod is'eircular in cross-section, and has cut into it screw threads num- `Y The billet extends the entire distance of 72 FIGURES" bered 24. This rod is secured at its lower end to the aluminum ingot by nut 25, tightened against washer 25, which abuts the aluminum ingot 2l. That portion of the steel rod which extends above the upper surface of the aluminum ingot is designated by the numeral 27. And in it there are a series of horizontal holes 23 in this portion of the steel rod. This portion projects for a distance of in the vertical hole 29 of the cylindrical billet 3).

The rest of the structure of this embodiment, about half of which is to be found in FTGS. 4 and 5, is the same as shown in FIGURES l, 2 and 3. The sole difference of the second embodiment over the iirst resides in the steel rod and the manner in which it is affixed to the aluminum ingot.

1For an aluminum ingot in the form of a parallelopipcd, there are set out below the weights, dimensions, and the volumes of several aluminum ingots. These dimensions are based on aluminum weighing 9.09757 pound per cubic inch.

There are various advantages in the use of this weighted laluminum type deoxidizer to submerge the aluminum ingot in the molten steel in the ladle, for making steel of low iron oxide content, and more particularly low carbon steels. Some specific advantages are herewith set forth. There is more complete deoxidation of the steel because the aluminum, which is an ingot, is in more positive contact with the molten metal due to immersion therein. Also there is closer control in the use, due to the efficiency of the introduction of aluminum into the molten ferrous metal. ln the older method the aluminum tends to oat on the molten ferrous metal, and therefore is only partially dissolved inthe molten metal (steel). This is particularly true where control of the residual aluminum is desired in the finished steel or is a part of the steel specification. A third advantage is that the use of it saves time, and the deoxidation can be done at a .time and in a place where the entire heat is available for such treatment. And the latter factors make for a more uniform speci'lcation of the steel.A Fourth, lthe closer control of the use of mdefliciency of the introduction of the aluminum makes quality of the end product much more subject to the desires of the supervisors. To make this last clearer, it shall be pointed out, that in the normal practice where `aluminum is added to the ladle by throwing groups of (50 lbs. approximately) 2-6 lbs. notchbars individual weight, a great deal of the ehiciency of the effort depends upon theskill of the helper who throws the aluminum into the ladle; if he risv too late, the steel may be so high in the ladle as to cause the notchbars to float and finally get into the slag that comes into the ladle at the end of the tapping process; in this situation, the aluminum in the slag is acomplete waste. This condition cannot occur where the valuminum ingot is submerged in the molten ferrous metal and held there by the weight of the steel in the' compo-nent parts of the unit, namely the steel ingot, the steel billet in addition to the steel rod.

I have described two specific embodiments of the immersion unit of aluminum type deoxidizer of my invention. However, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that different embodiments of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. Consearcanos quently, I do not limit myself other than by the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

l claim as my invention:

l. A weighted aluminum type deoxidizer to submerge the `aluminum in the molten ferrous metal to be deoxidized, comprising a solid aluminum ingot firmly secured to a steel rod, a substantial portion of this said rod extending above the surface of the aluminum ingot and pierced by a series of horizontal holes at spaced vertical distances, a steel billet extending above the upper surface of the aluminum ingot, which billet has a vertical opening centrally positioned throughout its length and into which the said steel rod projects, and extending through the thickness of the said billet there are horizontally positioned holes vertically spaced from one another, at least the lower series of horizontal holes in said billet being capable of being brought into alignment with the holes in the steel rod, keys inserted through several aligned holes in the billet and in the steel rod for holding the aluminum ingot to the said steel billet, means on the respective keys to prevent their disengagement, a steel ingot larger in total surface area than the said aluminum ingot and being several times the weight of the latter and positioned in the approximate upper half of the entire dcoxidizer structure, the steel ingot having a vertical passageway centrally positioned and extending throughout its height, there being a plurality of horizontally positioned, vertically spaced holes extending the entire thickness of the steel ingot, the billet extending up into the said vertical passageway of the steel ingot, metal keys extending through a plurality of the horizontal holes in the steel ingot and the aligned horizontal holes in the billet for securing the billet to the steel ingot, means on these respective keys to prevent their disengagement, mechanical means at the top of and aiixed to the steel ingot for fastening it to a hoisting mechanism, whereby the entire unit of the structural parts recited can be lifted and moved.

2. A weighted aluminum type deoxidizer to submerge the aluminum in the molten ferrous metal to be deoxidized, comprising a solid aluminum ingot firmly secured to a steel rod, a substantial portion of this said steel rod extending above the surface of the aluminum ingot and pierced by a series of horizontal holes at spaced vertical distances, a steel billet extending above the upper surface of the aluminum ingot, which billet has a vertical opening centrally positioned throughout its length and into which the said steel rod projects, and extending through the thickness of the said billet there are horizontally positioned holes vertically spaced from one another, at least the lower series of horizontal holes in said billet being capable of being brought into alignment with the holes in the said steel rod, keys inserted through several aligned holes in the billet and in the steel rod for holding the aluminum ingot to the said steel billet, means on the respective keys to prevent their disengagement, a clay refractory sleeve surrounding the said steel rod, steel billet and the means which prevent disengagement, joined to the upper 'surface of the aluminum ingot to prevent the molten metal from seeping into the'steel rod, a steel ingot larger in surface areathan the said aluminum ingot and being several times the Weight of the latter yand positioned above the upper end of the clay refractory sleeve, the steel ingot having a vertical passageway centrally positioned and extending throughout its height, there being a plurality of horizontally positioned, vertically spaced holes extending the yentire thickness of the steel ingot, metal keys extending through a plurality of the horizontal holes in the steel ingot and the aligned horizontal holes in the billet for securing the billet to the steelV ingot, means on these respective keys to prevent the disengagement, mechanical means lat the top of tand'aflixed to the steel Vingot for fastening it to a hoisting mechanism,

-whereby the entire unit of the structural parts recited can he lifted and moved.

L3. A Weighted aluminum ingot as set out in claim l,

wherein the steel rod is imbedded in the aluminum ingot and is held lirm to it by means attached to the steel rod. 4. A weighted aluminum ingot as sett out in claim 2,

wherein the steel rod is imbedded in the .aluminum ingot and is held hrm to it by means attached tothe steel rod.

5. A weighted aluminum ingot as set tout in claim 1, wherein the aluminum ingot has a centrally positioned vertical hole therein, through which the steel rod extends, and which rod is secured to the base of the said aluminum ingot.

6. A weighted aluminum ingot as set out in claim 2, wherein the aluminum ingo-t has a centrally positioned vertical hole therein, thnough which the steel rod extends, and which rod is secured 4to the base `of the said aluminum ing-ot.

7. A weighted aluminum ingot as set lout in claim 1, wherein the means on the keys to prevent their disengagement is a tack weld.

8. A weighted aluminum type deoxidizer to submerge the aluminum in the ladle in the molten ferrous metal to be deoxidized, comprising a solid aluminum ingot firmly secured to a steel rod, a substantial portion of this rod extending above the upper surface ofthe aluminum ingot, a steel billet extending aboveV the upper surface of the aluminum ingot, which billet has a vertical opening centrally positioned throughout its length and into which the said steel rod projects, means to secure the said steel rod to the said billet, a clay refractory sleeve surrounding the steel rod, billet and said securing means, and joined to the upper surface of the aluminum ingot to prevent molten metal from seeping in to the steel rod, a steel ingot larger in surface area than thesaid aluminum ingot and being several times the weight of the latter and positioned above the upper end of the clay refractory pipe, the steel ingot having a vertical passageway centrally positioned and extending throughout its height, the steel billet extending up into the said vertical passageway in the steel ingot, means for securing the said billet to the steel ingot, mechanical means at the top of and affixed to the steel ingot for fastening the latter to a hoisting mechanism, whereby the entire unit of the structural parts recited can be lifted and moved.

9. A weighted aluminum type deoxidizer to submerge the aluminum in the molten ferrous metal to be deoxidized, comprising a solid aluminum ingot lirmly secured to a steel rod, a substantial portion of this rod extending above the surface of the aluminum ingot, a steel billet extending above the upper surface of the aluminum ingot, which billet has a vertical opening positioned throughout its length and into which the said steel rod projects, means to secure the said, steel rod to the billet, a Vsteel ingot larger in surface area than the said aluminum ingot and being several times the weight of the latter and positioned in the approximate upper half of the entire deoxidizer structure, the steel ingot having a vertical passageway centrally positioned and extending throughout its height, the steel billet extending up into the said vertical passageway in the steel ingot, means for securing the said billet to the steel ingot, mechanical means at the top of and aixed to the :steel ingot for fastening the latter to a hoisting mechanism, whereby the entire unit of the structural parts recited can be lifted.

10. A weighted aluminum ingot as set out in claim 8, wherein the steel rod is imbedded in the aluminum ingot and is held Vrm to it by means attached to the steel rod.

1l. A weighted aluminum ingot as set out in claim 9,

wherein the steel rod is imbedded in the aluminum ingot` and held irm to it by means attached to the steel rod.

12. A weighted aluminum ingot as set out in claim 1,

wherein the aluminum ingot has a centrally positioned vertical hole therein through which the steel rod extends e and which rod is secured to the base of the said aluminum ingot.

13. A weighted aluminum ingot as set out in claim 2, A

wherein the aluminum ingot has a centrally positioned vertical hole therein, through which the steel rod extends, and which rod is securedto the base of the said aluminum ingot.

14. A weighted aluminum ingot as set out in claim 2,

wherein the means on the keys to prevent their disengagement is a tack weld.

MORRIS O. WOLK, Primary Examiner. JAMES H. TAYMAN, JR., Examiner. 

1. A WEIGHTED ALUMINUM TYPE DEOXIDIZER TO SUBMERGE THE ALUMINUM IN THE MOLTEN FERROUS METAL TO BE DEOXIDIZED, COMPRISING A SOLID ALUMINUM INGOT FIRMLY SECURED TO A STEEL ROD, A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THIS SAID ROD EXTENDING ABOVE THE SURFACE OF THE ALUMINUM INGOT AND PIERCED BY A SERIES OF HORIZONTAL HOLES AT SPACED VERTICAL DISTANCES, A STEEL BILLET EXTENDING ABOVE THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE ALUMINUM INGOT, WHICH BILLET HAS A VERTICAL OPENING CENTRALLY POSITIONED THROUGHOUT ITS LENGTH AND INTO WHICH THE SAID STEEL ROD PROJECTS, AND EXTENDING THROUGH THE THICKNESS OF THE SAID BILLET THERE ARE HORIZONTALLY POSITIONED HOLES VERTICALLY SPACED FROM ONE ANOTHER, AT LEAST THE LOWER SERIES OF HORIZONTAL HOLES IN SAID BILLET BEING CAPABLE OF BEING BROUGHT INTO ALIGNMENT WITH THE HOLES IN THE STEEL ROD, KEYS INSERTED THROUGH SEVERAL ALIGNED HOLES IN THE BILLET AND IN THE STEEL ROD FOR HOLDING THE ALUMINUM INGOT TO THE SAID STEEL BILLET, MEANS ON THE RESPECTIVE KEYS TO PREVENT THEIR DISENGAGEMENT, A STEEL INGOT LARGER IN TOTAL SURFACE AREA THAN THE SAID ALUMINUM INGOT AND BEING SEVERAL TIMES THE WEIGHT OF THE LATTER AND POSITIONED IN THE APPROXIMATE UPPER HALF OF THE ENTIRE DEOXIDIZER STRUCTURE, THE STEEL INGOT HAVING A VERTICAL PASSAGEWAY CENTRALLY POSITIONED AND EXTENDING THROUGHOUT ITS HEIGHT, THERE BEING A PLURALITY OF HORIZONTALLY POSITONED, VERTICALLY SPACED HOLES EXTENDING THE ENTIRE THICKNESS OF THE STEEL INGOT, THE BILLET EXTENDING UP INTO THE SAID VERTICAL PASSAGEWAY OF THE STEEL INGOT, METAL KEYS EXTENDING THROUGH A PLURALITY OF THE HORIZONTAL HOLES IN THE STEEL INGOT AND THE ALIGNED HORIZONTAL HOLES IN THE BILLET FOR SECURING THE BILLET TO THE STEEL INGOT, MEANS ON THESE RESPECTIVE KEYS TO PREVENT THEIR DISENGAGEMENT, MECHANICAL MEANS AT THE TOP OF AND AFFIXED TO THE STEEL INGOT FOR FASTENING IT TO A HOISTING MECHANISM, WHEREBY THE ENTIRE UNIT OF THE STRUCTURAL PARTS RECITED CAN BE LIFTED AND MOVED. 